Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Muscle Relaxation”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,603 records · Page 89Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Is the muscle relaxant effect of diazepam in spastic mutant rats mediated through GABA-independent benzodiazepine receptors?

Diazepam (0.4-0.8 mg/kg i.p.) reduced the spontaneous activity in the electromyogram (EMG) recorded from the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle of spastic mutant Han--Wistar rats in a dose-dependent manner. The depressant effect of diazepam (0.8 mg/kg) on the EMG activity was antagonized by Ro 15-1788 (5 mg/kg i.p.) and by picrotoxin (2 mg/kg i.p.), but not by bicuculline (2 mg/kg i.p.). These results suggest that diazepam depresses EMG activity of mutant rats by mechanisms related to the interaction of the drug with GABA-independent benzodiazepine receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

L-arginine deficiency causes suppression of nonadrenergic noncholinergic nerve-mediated smooth muscle relaxation: role of L-citrulline recycling.

Studies were performed on the internal anal sphincter (IAS) smooth muscle strips obtained from opossums (Didelphis virginiana). Isometric tension and L-arginine levels of the tissues were measured under basal conditions, in the presence of electrical field stimulation (EFS) and after treatment with different concentrations of arginase. For the nonadrenergic noncholinergic nerve stimulation, short trains (4 sec) as well as continuous EFS were used. During continuous EFS, after the initial IAS relaxation, the response began to fade within several min to approximately 80% recovery of the basal tone. We also examined the influence of L-arginine and L-citrulline on these responses. For some studies, the tissues were pretreated with L-glutamine (an inhibitor of L-citrulline uptake), L-glutamate or N(G)-hydroxy-L-arginine (an inhibitor of arginase). Interestingly, the basal levels of L-arginine were found to be significantly higher in the IAS (tonic smooth muscle) than in the rectal (phasic smooth muscle) smooth muscle. Arginase caused a concentration-dependent attenuation of the IAS relaxation caused by EFS. L-Citrulline and L-arginine were equipotent in reversing the attenuation. Both arginase (60 min pretreatment) and continuous EFS (tissues collected at the time of maximal recovery of the basal IAS tone after the initial relaxation) caused significant decreases in L-arginine levels. The decreases in the levels of L-arginine were restored by the exogenous administration of either L-arginine or L-citrulline. The restoration of L-arginine levels by L-citrulline but not by L-arginine was selectively blocked by L-glutamine. Furthermore, the IAS relaxation, attenuated by arginase was unaffected by L-glutamine but was restored by N-hydroxy-L-arginine pretreatment. The studies suggest that L-citrulline-L-arginine recycling may play a significant role in the maintenance of IAS relaxation in response to nonadrenergic noncholinergic nerve stimulation.

Anal Canal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Protein kinase C mechanism enhances vascular muscle relaxation by the Ca2+ antagonist, Ro 40-5967.

Actions of the novel Ca2+ antagonist, Ro 40-5967, which displays unusual efficacy against endothelin (ET)-induced contractions, were studied in isolated vascular muscle cells (VMCs) using the fluorescent protein kinase C (PKC) indicator, BODIPY 12 alpha-phorbol ester 13 beta-acetate (PBA-BODIPY). High-sensitivity (photon-counting) digital-imaging microscopy quantified PKC distribution within VMCs and showed translocation from the cytosol to the cell surface membrane on stimulation with ET. ET (1 nM) stimulated translocation of PBA-BODIPY fluorescence that peaked at 4 min, increasing from 19 +/- 2% to 29 +/- 2% surface membrane (edge) distribution (n=44, p<0.05). Increases in membrane-associated PKC due to translocation began within 2 min and persisted for about 10 min, after which a gradual decline to control levels occurred. Upon exposure to Ro 40-5967 (10 microM), there was an inhibition of fluorescence intensity throughout the cell. Average fluorescence intensity decreased to 84 +/- 4% (n=20, p<0.05) of that in prestimulus controls. Cell/membrane was also reduced to below unstimulated control levels. Amlodipine failed to decrease PKC fluorescence intensity or translocation to the surface membrane. These data suggest that there is an important direct PKC inhibitory action of Ro 40-5967 that would at least partially explain relaxation of ET-induced contractions.

Animals↗